2001 Volume 21 Issue 1Supplement Pages 71-74
For various soft tissues (e.g., breast, liver, etc.), we are developing the ultrasonic strain measurement-based shear modulus reconstruction/imaging technique. To clarify the limitation of this technique as the diagnostic tool, together with improving the technique we are collecting clinical shear modulus images. Furthermore, we are applying the technique as the monitoring technique for the effectiveness of chemical therapy (e.g., anticancer drug, ethanol) and thermal therapy (e.g., rf electromagnetic wave, HIFU, etc.). Here, we showed shear modulus images obtained in quasi-real time. Using the conventional Work Station, the quantitative images were obtained on ten seconds order. In particular, by exhibiting the superiority of the shear modulus imaging compared with the simultaneous B-mode imaging, we delineated the effectiveness of the technique as the clinical visualization technique for diagnosis and therapy. For instance, shear modulus value of in vivo human breast carcinoma was significantly high (typical value : 6.33×106 N/m2). Shear modulus images were also obtained on in vivo human liver tissues. On the in vitro calf liver, shear modulus value of electromagnetic wave-induced thermal lesion became about five times higher after cooling down. We believe that this technique is currently available, and yet in the near future this technique will allow the combined diagnosis/therapy system for opening up a novel clinical style.
